‘s extremely anticipated Champions League efficiency towards Arsenal has led to a wave of criticism, with many questioning whether or not the Swedish ahead is well worth the hefty €100 million price ticket at present connected to his title.
Regardless of his prolific season thus far — scoring 24 objectives in 20 video games — Gyökeres’s efficiency fell far wanting expectations in Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of on Tuesday.
This outing has left many questioning if the hype matches actuality for the participant who has been on Arsenal’s radar for a while.
![Gyökeres under fire The Swedish forward's performance was heavily criticised in England, with the press pointing out that his display against Arsenal "fell short." Some argue that he needs to leave the league now to prove himself at the highest level. A BOLA, 28 November 2024 The closest Gyökeres came to scoring against Arsenal was hitting the post. In the stands of Alvalade were numerous scouts from European clubs, watching the Lions' performance against Arsenal, with a particular focus on Gyökeres, who has been linked with half of Europe. But the Swede's display fell far short of what he has delivered recently—his hat-trick against Manchester City had only served to whet his suitors' appetites. Unfortunately, he struggled against Arsenal, contributing to the game's direction and to the growing deficit on the scoreboard, ultimately resulting in a heavy 1-5 defeat for the Greens and Whites. Gyökeres drew a blank, and the English press did not hold back. Some even stated that the forward failed the big test. "It was an important night, but he failed to make an impression. He seemed desperate for a moment that never came. He simply couldn’t hold the ball up against the strength and skill of Arsenal's defensive duo," noted London media. They added: "It's said that Gyökeres could be worth up to €100 million this summer. To justify that kind of valuation, a player needs to be able to overcome every challenge. Against defenders of the calibre of Gabriel and William Saliba, he fell short." Rúben Amorim's departure to Manchester United seems to be accelerating Gyökeres's possible move, with a return to England—where he previously played for Brighton and Coventry in the Championship—looking the most likely outcome. Former player Rio Ferdinand has expressed doubts about Gyökeres's standing in top-tier football, pointing out that he still has much to prove in a top league, something Portugal does not represent. "I wouldn't place him among the best just yet because he hasn't proven himself in a top league," Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. "With all due respect to the Portuguese league, it's a very good league, but it isn’t top-tier. If he signs for a Premier League side, he’ll need to prove himself. He has to come back and say, 'This is who I am.'" Asked about the best possible destination for the Lions' No. 9, Ferdinand joked: "If you want to win, go to Manchester United [laughs]. The key point is that he knows the coach. Transitioning to another league with someone who knows his playing style and can bring the best out of him—something he's already proven—while being the star of an emerging project, that's an opportunity he would relish." PICARDY WITH GABRIEL Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães taunted Gyökeres with his celebration after scoring the third goal, with some Arsenal fans speculating that this was payback for Pedro Gonçalves's imitation of Granit Xhaka's celebration during the Lions' victory in the last encounter between the two teams, during the Europa League round of 16 in 2023. Gabriel’s social media accounts were soon flooded with derogatory comments about his antics.](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ujm2WYxw8I9Yvc0v1Sp6jg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc3MQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/daily_cannon_articles_231/e537c3bad98a779f7973a1dce9499909)
The conflict towards Arsenal supplied and a bunch of European scouts an opportunity to evaluate Gyökeres up shut. Sadly for the 26-year-old, his show was underwhelming at finest.
The closest Gyökeres got here to discovering the again of the online was an effort that struck the publish. The Swedish worldwide struggled to cope with Arsenal’s defensive solidity, discovering himself unable to maintain maintain of the ball or create alternatives towards the formidable pairing of and .
The English press didn’t maintain again of their evaluation, with some shops calling the efficiency a failure. “It was an necessary night time, however he failed the take a look at. He appeared determined for a second that by no means got here,” wrote one outlet, including that Gyökeres merely couldn’t match the “energy and may” of Arsenal’s defence.
One other famous, “To be price €100 million, a participant has to have the ability to overcome each problem. Towards defenders of Gabriel and Saliba’s high quality, Gyökeres fell quick.”
The scrutiny of Gyökeres’s worth has amplified following the match, and his show solely fuelled doubts over his capability to carry out on the highest degree.
Former England defender , talking on TNT Sports activities, echoed these sentiments, arguing that Gyökeres has but to show himself in a high league. “With all due respect to the Portuguese championship, it’s a excellent league, however it isn’t high,” Ferdinand mentioned.
“If he indicators for a Premier League workforce, he should show who he’s. You need to come again and say ‘that is who I’m’.” He famous that Gyökeres’s potential transfer to , the place he may reunite with former coach , may present him with the best circumstances for growth, however added, “He hasn’t had success in a high league but.”
Gyökeres’s latest hat-trick towards had sparked renewed curiosity in his companies from Premier League golf equipment, with Arsenal amongst these reportedly .
Nonetheless, his struggles towards Arsenal have led to a reassessment of his present skills, with the efficiency described by one paper as “short-lived” and indicative of a participant who nonetheless has a lot to show earlier than incomes a blockbuster transfer.
Soccer is fickle.
The expectation had been that Gyökeres would use the match to indicate his capability to step as much as the Premier League degree (a hattrick towards Metropolis not sufficient, apparently), however his incapability to affect the end result or discover the again of the online has thrown his readiness into query.
Amidst the criticism, Gabriel Magalhães’s post-goal celebration added gas to the dialogue, with the Brazilian defender mocking Gyökeres by recreating ‘s notorious celebration, which had riled Arsenal followers in the course of the Europa League spherical of 16 in 2023 by mocking Granit Xhaka’s celebration.
Gabriel’s actions led to a storm of derogatory feedback on social media and , nevertheless it additionally underscored the dominance of Arsenal’s defence over Gyökeres all through the match. .